Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who moved there several years ago, with their little kids and elderly parents. They love it there. They are getting citizenship. They said if it weren't for family still in the US they'd never come back to the US.

I am super jealous. Timing didn't work out for us like it did for them. I was telling my spouse I wish we could've done this when the kids were younger.

As an aside, we'll probably move to Europe somewhere after our youngest graduates from college, and maybe stay in Asian for a year. That's my consolation. Better late than never.

Anonymous wrote:

eastcoastmom wrote:Portugal has really tightened golden visa eligibility particularly through real estate investment.

My friend purchased property there before the change with hope of gaining residency and it has been a slow, tedious process dealing with government offices. It is not efficient at all, health care is much more limited than you would think, and I think many Americans struggle with how the labyrinth of administrative issues. Job market is also limited unless you are a digital nomad. We have also been casually exploring a second home abroad but the health care problems have crossed it off our list.

Thank you. Can you expand on any of this, and is your friend willing to stick it out? Do they hope to get citizenship eventually? Have they enjoyed living in Portugal apart from the bureaucratic hurdles? Thank you.

Anonymous wrote:

eastcoastmom wrote:Portugal has really tightened golden visa eligibility particularly through real estate investment.

My friend purchased property there before the change with hope of gaining residency and it has been a slow, tedious process dealing with government offices. It is not efficient at all, health care is much more limited than you would think, and I think many Americans struggle with how the labyrinth of administrative issues. Job market is also limited unless you are a digital nomad. We have also been casually exploring a second home abroad but the health care problems have crossed it off our list.

Thank you. Can you expand on any of this, and is your friend willing to stick it out? Do they hope to get citizenship eventually? Have they enjoyed living in Portugal apart from the bureaucratic hurdles? Thank you.

eastcoastmom wrote:Portugal has really tightened golden visa eligibility particularly through real estate investment.

My friend purchased property there before the change with hope of gaining residency and it has been a slow, tedious process dealing with government offices. It is not efficient at all, health care is much more limited than you would think, and I think many Americans struggle with how the labyrinth of administrative issues. Job market is also limited unless you are a digital nomad. We have also been casually exploring a second home abroad but the health care problems have crossed it off our list.

Anonymous wrote:I worked in Greece for the Olympics. Great place if you have no ambitions or medical needs. Otherwise it's basically a giant welfare state.